By Dannie Oliveaux | dannieoliveaux@theexaminer.com
Giving Tuesday on Dec. 2, 2025, brought good news for Lamar Institute of Technology (LIT) and the Southeast Texas Food Bank, as both received large donations from ExxonMobil.
“This year has been a historic year for ExxonMobil in terms of our community contributions,” said Tyler Gustafson, adviser for public and government affairs at ExxonMobil. “We’ve given out more than $1.3 million in contributions this year to a variety of organizations supporting quality of life and education.”
Phil Matherne, integrated complex manager for ExxonMobil, said LIT has been a strong partner with the company for more than a decade.
“I think right here in our backyard, it makes sense for us to continue to work together and really continue to build generations of the workforce for the future,” he said. “It’s amazing to me the amount of growth that’s happening right here in the Golden Triangle area. All of the U.S. Gulf Coast is expanding, but right here, it’s expanding more than any area.”
Matherne said the workforce needed for the future is not the same as the workforce of years past.
“The technology continues to improve,” he said. “The workers we need must have more skills — and different skills — than we’ve had in the past. I think the partnership and what LIT is providing are bringing those types of students to us and to the industry.”
ExxonMobil representatives presented LIT with an $80,000 check.
Dr. Sid Valentine, president of LIT, said ExxonMobil’s continued investment in education and workforce development directly empowers students, strengthens programs and builds a stronger Southeast Texas.
“The contribution ensures LIT can maintain and operate our state-of-the-art outdoor process operating training unit and allowed us to purchase two advanced three-phase motor control training systems for our instrumentation program,” Valentine said. “This support keeps our students learning on real industry equipment.”
Valentine said LIT will launch its Summer Bridge STEM Program for upcoming high school graduates entering LIT in 2026.
“Over two weeks, students will receive STEM boot camp instruction, college readiness preparation, career planning, TSI preparation and leadership development — all at no cost,” he said. “Additionally, the contribution will fund the Pathway to Industries Camp, a no-cost summer program for ninth- and 10th-grade students in Beaumont, introducing them to high-demand fields like instrumentation, process operating, robotics, welding and mechatronics. Because of ExxonMobil, these students will experience opportunities they might not otherwise access and begin envisioning futures in STEM.”
Valentine added that ExxonMobil’s support extends far beyond financial investment.
“Their support is present throughout the year in the form of curriculum feedback, alumni mixers, mentorship from industry professionals and career development activities like résumé writing and mock interviews,” he said. “ExxonMobil’s investments help ensure our programs remain innovative, accessible and aligned with the needs of the Southeast Texas economy. Together, we hope to create career pathways for thousands of students each year to provide a life for themselves and their families in our community.”
At the Southeast Texas Food Bank, ExxonMobil presented a $50,000 donation.
Gustafson said the company has a long-standing relationship with the food bank, and this year’s increased contribution will support the student backpack program.
“Students at Charlton-Pollard Elementary School and Pietzsch-MacArthur School will be able to receive the backpacks they need to have nutritious meals they can take home from school,” Gustafson said. “It’s a critical partnership.”
He said more than 20 ExxonMobil employees volunteered at the food bank on Dec. 2, 2025, packaging more than 10,000 pounds of food — about 300 boxes — for distribution to seniors.
Jimmy Sparks, chief administrative officer for the food bank, said volunteer support during the holidays is especially important.
“They’re huge volunteers with the food bank, and a lot of the food here needs to be assembled,” he said. “Just these senior boxes alone — 2,800 — have to go out each month. So it’s a huge blessing to have them step up.”
Sparks said the food bank distributes about 11 million pounds of food each year across an eight-county area that includes Jasper, Newton, Polk, Sabine and Tyler counties.
He added that many ExxonMobil employees volunteer in groups throughout the year.
